As an owner of an Apple AirTag, I know how important it is to be able to track the location of my belongings. However, I recently found myself becoming increasingly frustrated when I was unable to locate my AirTag. After doing some research, I discovered that there are a few important tips and tricks to ensure that your AirTag stays up-to-date and easily locatable. In this post, I’ll be sharing how I solved my AirTag tracking issue, as well as other solutions that I discovered to help other AirTag owners keep track of their items.
AirTags update their location whenever an Apple Device comes nearby. In a busy area where lots of people have iPhones, the location could update every minute. In a remote area, with nobody nearby, the location will not update until someone with an Apple device comes near to it.
How Does AirTags Work?
First, let’s see how AirTags work. As a device designed as a key finder, AirTags use Apple’s Find My network to precisely locate objects where your AirTags are attached.
AirTags send out a secure Bluetooth signal that’s detected by devices in the Find My network. These devices then transmit the location of your AirTag to iCloud. Then, you can use the Find My app to see it on the map.
With its compatibility with any iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch that’s capable of running iOS or iPadOS 14.5, or later, users can find the AirTag through Bluetooth.
For better and more precise locating of AirTags, iPhone 11 or later devices (excluding second and third generation of iPhone SE) uses their built-in U1 chip.
With Precision Finding, you’ll be able to see the distance and direction of nearby AirTags. For devices that aren’t capable of Precision Finding, you can play a sound using the Find My app just by going to the new Items tab to trigger the Airtag’s built-in speaker.
For AirTags that were left far behind, using the Find My network, nearby iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices helps track down your AirTag. Only you can see the location of your AirTag since the location history and data of your AirTag are encrypted end-to-end.
Table of Contents
How Often Do AirTags Update Their Location?
In a busy area where there are a lot of Apple devices capable of detecting your AirTag, the location may be updated every minute or two.
AirTags depend on nearby devices capable of connecting to the Find My network. In an area where there are no Apple devices, your AirTag may not update its location at all.
Specifications
Now you know what an AirTag is and how they work, let’s go ahead and see its specifications to know it better.
Size
With its diameter of 1.26 inches (31.9 mm), weight of 0.39 ounces (11 grams), and height or thickness of 0.31 inches (8.0 mm), the AirTag is no bigger than a standard bottle cap. However, it’s almost as thick as an iPhone 11 Pro Max (8.1mm thick).
Connectivity
For Proximity Finding, AirTags use Bluetooth with a range of around 100 ft. With Precision Finding, capable devices with built-in U1 chips can accurately locate your AirTag and give you its distance and direction.
Speaker
The AirTag also has a built-in speaker, which you can ring through the Find My app. Being able to hear where the AirTag could be would make it easier for you to find it, even if you can’t see it.
Battery
AirTag’s battery life is designed to last for more than a year. If the battery needs to be changed, your iPhone will let you know when it’s time to replace the battery. AirTags use a CR2032 coin-cell battery.
Sensor
AirTags also have accelerometer sensors. Accelerometers are used to measure the acceleration of a moving object and can detect human movement’s frequency and intensity.
Privacy
The AirTag’s location is fully encrypted to protect your privacy. So not even Apple will know the location of your AirTag and what it’s tracking.
AirTag Movement Alert
To prevent and discourage unwanted tracking, iPhone or iPad users will be notified if an unknown AirTag is detected moving with them.
If the person who registered the AirTag is away for an extended period, the AirTag will notify nearby Apple devices.
Lost Mode
If you lose your AirTag, it can be put into Lost Mode. Once it has been detected by a device in the Find My network, it will notify you automatically.
Additionally, if someone finds a lost AirTag, they can tap the AirTag with their NFC-capable device to show their contact information if the NFC message has been set up.
Splash, Water, and Dust Resistance
AirTag is also rated IP67 under IEC standard 60529. With this rating, the AirTag is fully dustproof and can be submerged up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
For Apple AirTag’s full specifications, click here.
| Topic | Tips and Tricks for AirTag Owners |
|---|---|
| How AirTags Work | AirTags use Apple’s Find My network to locate attached objects. |
| AirTags send a Bluetooth signal detected by devices in the network. | |
| Devices transmit AirTag location to iCloud for viewing in the Find My app. | |
| iPhone 11 or later devices use Precision Finding for more accurate location. | |
| AirTag Specifications | Size: 1.26 inches diameter, 0.39 ounces, 0.31 inches thickness. |
| Connectivity: Bluetooth with a range of 100 ft, U1 chip for Precision Finding. | |
| Speaker: Built-in for ringing through Find My app. | |
| Battery: Lasts more than a year, uses CR2032 coin-cell battery. | |
| Sensor: Has accelerometer sensors for detecting movement. | |
| Privacy: AirTag location is fully encrypted for user privacy. | |
| AirTag Features | AirTag movement alert notifies users if an unknown AirTag is detected moving with them. |
| Lost Mode helps locate lost AirTag once detected by a device on Find My network. | |
| NFC capability allows someone to show contact information if they find a lost AirTag. | |
| Splash, water, and dust resistance with IP67 rating. | |
| Troubleshooting Tips | AirTags update their location whenever an Apple Device comes nearby. |
| Ensure the device and AirTag are on the same Wi-Fi network with a strong signal. | |
| Check for firmware updates, and inspect the AirTag’s charging pins. |
Wrapping Up
Apple AirTag is convenient once attached to personal things that are easily lost. With its accuracy and reliability, it would only take you a minute to find your lost belongings.
The only downside of the AirTag is that it can’t update its location unless there’s a nearby Apple device connected to the Find My network. However, with more than a billion iPhone users in the world, it’s good enough to get updates on your AirTags location.
